The ADJ PROCESS: A practical application of a spiritual process and a tool to resolve racial prejudice

Vonita McGee was born in Seattle, Washington; her parents were originally from Kentucky.  She has 24 siblings, 23 of whom were foster children except for one brother. Being part of a large multiracial family, especially one comprised of foster children, taught her a lot. She learned close up about loving people different from yourself; she learned that love is what makes a family, not blood. Through their actions, her parents demonstrated that the heart’s capacity to love was endless. Vonita considers herself an “honest sinner,” often getting into trouble for asking difficult questions; she was always curious and seeking answers. From an early age, she was curious about religions. She could see the similarities in religions and didn’t understand why there were conflicts. The fact that the Bahá’í faith believed in the unity of all religions or rather that all religions emanate from one source drew her attention, as did the Bahá’í belief in eradicating all forms of prejudice. Vonita investigated the faith for several years before declaring and has been a member of the Bahá’í faith for over 25 years. Her life’s work and passion have been studying the Bahá’í Writings, especially those of Shoghi Effendi. Vonita attended Western Washington University and Fairhaven College, majoring in business for the arts. She is also a musician whose favorite instruments are: the viola, cello, and bass violin. Professionally, Vonita worked in a corporate law firm as an assistant financial controller, as well as in various administrative positions at King County jail; and in social services as a supervisor and case manager serving low-income clients. For her this was the most rewarding job because she felt she was truly being of service.

Jeanais Brodie is a native New Yorker, raised in the communities of Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and the South Bronx before they became gentrified. She has lived a significant number of years in western Massachusetts and Boston and as well as in northern and southern California. Jeanais' professional career was as a higher education administrator and teacher in public and private institutions, on both the east and west coasts. She currently serves as adjunct faculty for the Anti-Black Racism course at the Wilmette Institute. Her undergraduate degree focused on Ed Philosophy & Theory, and Multicultural Education. Graduate studies were in Public Administration and Leadership; and Adult Education with focuses on Program Planning & Development. Jeanais continues to use her professional skills as a consultant providing coaching and mentoring. Her community activities and interests are geared towards programming in Race Unity, Racial Awareness and Community building; youth leadership and empowerment, affordable housing, and early childhood education. Jeanais has been a Bahá’í for over forty years. She has gone travel teaching to southern Africa, Tonga and New Zealand and is active in her Bahá’í community serving on the Local Spiritual Assembly and as a member of "Bahá’ís for Race Unity."